(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013 Donald Trump was rushed from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner by his security detail on Saturday night following reports of suspected gunshots within the building, prompting heavily armed agents to storm the stage and evacuate senior officials including the vice president and first lady.<\/p>\n
The annual gala, a fixture of the Washington political calendar that brings together journalists and the most important politicians in the nation’s capital, descended into chaos as Secret Service and FBI personnel moved to secure the room. Trump had not attended the event as a sitting leader until this year.<\/p>\n
A reporter from Axios first confirmed that Trump was evacuated from the dinner by his security detail. Live images from the scene showed many attendees remaining inside the room, standing and talking in the aftermath of the incident.<\/p>\n
BBC journalists who were present at the event reported that they were safe and had taken shelter. They observed FBI Director Cash Patel standing just feet away from them. The event drew not only Washington’s journalism elite but also several members of Trump’s security cabinet and top advisers, all of whom were present in the room when the suspected gunshots were heard.<\/p>\n
Footage captured the dramatic moment when heavily armed men stormed the stage. Trump, who had been seated in the audience, was immediately surrounded. The vice president and Melania Trump were also whisked away from the scene. Attendees throughout the banquet hall crouched under their tables as security forces cleared the VIPs from the room.<\/p>\n
The camera panned across the room showing the reaction of guests as agents with their weapons raised moved Trump and other senior figures towards the exit. Accounts from those inside described the noise as suspected gunshots that may have originated outside the banquet hall rather than within it, though the security response was immediate and overwhelming.<\/p>\n
Trump and JD Vance were reported to be safe following the evacuation.<\/p>\n